The rain poured hard as Liu Kang ran through the dark city streets. His breath came out in sharp bursts, and his legs burned with every step. He wasn't running for exercise. He was running for his life.
Behind him, the man with the gun kept coming. The sound of heavy boots splashing in the water echoed through the narrow alleyways. A shot rang out, and a bullet zipped past Liu's shoulder, slamming into a metal dumpster with a loud clang.
He's still right behind me! Liu thought, panic twisting in his gut. I need to lose him.
He turned sharply down another alley, barely avoiding slipping on the wet pavement. His soaked clothes clung to his body, and the rain made it hard to see. But stopping wasn't an option.
How did it come to this?
His mind flashed back to the moment everything went wrong.
He had been delivering packages for months, no questions asked. It was a simple job, and the pay was good. But one day, curiosity had gotten the better of him. He had opened one of the sealed packages. Inside were documents — files filled with names, dates, payments, and photographs that made his stomach turn.
Human trafficking.
The organization he worked for wasn't just smuggling goods. They were selling people. And now, because he had seen the truth, they wanted him dead.
Another shot fired. This time the bullet hit the wall in front of him, sending shards of brick flying.
They can't let me live. They know I've seen too much.
He spotted an open window on the second floor of an old building. Without hesitation, he leapt, grabbed the windowsill, and pulled himself inside. His landing was rough, knocking over a small table with a loud crash.
An old woman screamed in terror, dropping a bowl of soup she had been carrying.
"I-I'm sorry!" Liu stammered. "I won't hurt you!"
He dashed through her living room and kicked open the back door. His lungs burned, but he kept moving.
Mei Ling... I promised to protect you. I can't die yet.
Another memory surfaced. His daughter's face appeared in his mind—her small smile, the way she tugged at his sleeve when she wanted a bedtime story.
---
"Papa, one more story, please!" Mei Ling begged, her big brown eyes full of excitement.
"Alright, but just one," Liu said, smiling as he pulled her close. "Once upon a time, there was a brave girl who could never be defeated because her papa always protected her."
She giggled and hugged him tightly.
"I love you, Papa."
"I love you too, my little flower."
---
That memory gave him strength. But the danger was real, and the man chasing him was closing in.
Liu burst into a laundromat. The lights inside flickered. Washing machines hummed, and the smell of detergent mixed with his own fear.
He stopped to catch his breath, leaning against a machine. His hands trembled. His heart pounded like a war drum.
The door creaked open behind him. Heavy footsteps echoed. The man had followed him inside.
Liu turned to face him.
The man wore a black trench coat. Water dripped from his wide-brimmed hat. In his gloved hand, the gun gleamed under the weak fluorescent lights.
"There's nowhere left to run, Liu," the man said, his voice cold. "You shouldn't have looked inside that package."
Liu raised his hands slowly, his voice shaking. "Please... I won't say anything. I swear."
The man shook his head. "You know how this works. Loose ends get tied up."
Liu's breathing quickened. He glanced at the gun, then at the door behind the man. There was no way out.
"Are you ready to die?" the man asked, tilting his head slightly.
Liu swallowed hard. His thoughts flashed back to Mei Ling. If he died here, who would take care of her?
He clenched his fists. "If my death means she's safe… then yes. I'm ready."
The man smiled faintly and raised the gun.
Two shots rang out.
Bang! Bang!
The bullets struck Liu's chest. The pain hit like a hammer, and he staggered backward. His back slammed against the washing machine before he collapsed to the floor.
Warm blood spread beneath him. His vision blurred as his body grew cold.
I'm sorry, Mei Ling, he thought as darkness crept in. I failed you.
His eyes closed.
---
Then, suddenly, everything changed.
He wasn't in the laundromat anymore.
A strange white mist surrounded him. It was silent. Just endless fog.
Liu slowly stood up. His legs no longer hurt, and his wounds were gone.
"Papa."
The soft voice came from ahead. He turned and saw Mei Ling standing there. She wore her favorite pink dress, her hair tied up with ribbons.
Tears welled in Liu's eyes. "Mei Ling… my little flower..."
She ran to him, and he knelt down, hugging her tightly. She felt warm in his arms.
"Why didn't you come home?" she asked, looking up at him with innocent eyes.
"I tried, sweetheart. I tried so hard."
"I waited for you, Papa."
"I know. I'm so sorry."
The mist swirled around them, growing darker. Black shapes began to crawl from the fog. Strange creatures formed—black, gooey beings with mouths full of sharp teeth. They hissed and slithered, inching closer.
Liu stood in front of Mei Ling, shielding her.
"Stay behind me," he whispered.
The black goo wrapped around his legs like vines. It pulled him down slowly. The cold seeped into his skin, and his strength faded.
The monsters whispered words he couldn't understand. They grinned with endless mouths, pulling him deeper into the ground.
"Papa," Mei Ling whispered again, her voice faint. "It's okay. Let go."
"I can't leave you," he said through gritted teeth. "I promised to protect you."
Tears streamed down his face as the black goo reached his chest. His hands trembled. His breath became shallow.
Is this the end? Is this my punishment?
The goo swallowed him completely.
---
Suddenly, everything stopped.
The darkness vanished, and a bright light filled the space. The warmth returned, and Liu floated weightlessly.
A voice echoed from nowhere and everywhere.
"You have been given a second chance."
Liu's eyes widened as the light grew brighter.
"Rise, Liu Kang. Your journey is not over yet."
He felt himself being pulled upwards, as if rising through the mist toward something greater.